Page 22 of Endless

I've never had a human react to me like this. Generally, they emit some sort of fear or concern in my presence. It is not normal for someone to be so comfortable around death. Their instincts tell them they should be anxious even at the idea of me.

She grabs the towel hanging next to the sink to dry her hands and then turns to face me. Again, her eyes meet mine, and they are filled with curiosity. She takes a step toward me, and I find myself riddled with anxiety. With every movement of her closing the distance between us, the anticipation only grows.

Finally, she stops in front of me, staring directly into my eyes, and places a hand on my shadow form. The smoke billows out around her hand before enveloping it. She watches as her hand disappears into the darkness of my being. I can tell she is confused over being able to press her skin against me but still having the shadowy smoke floating around it.

She closes her eyes for a moment, just feeling where our bodies connect. I am still standing here frozen, unsure of what to do. I intended to show her my shadow form, but it was after I had spoken to her. I didn't want it to happen this way, with her unprepared. I suppose I could dissipate. I could leave her here to question if what she saw was real, but that would only delay the inevitable.

My tendrils float around her body, pulling her closer to me. Her touching me in my true form has only intensified the way I feel for her. She glances down at the tendril on her hip, and her breath hitches.

I lock eyes with her again, watching the way she is studying me. Why is she not afraid? Does she know what death means? Does she understand the finality of it all? Is she hoping that I will take her and bring her peace? I am completely taken aback by her reaction, so much so that I just continue to stand there like a fool.

"Kellan?" she questions, and I almost burst at the seams. It takes everything in me to register that I'm not imagining it.

Chapter 12

Lena

Iwould recognize his eyes anywhere. The sparkling green hues draw me in and evoke nothing but peace. They are the only eyes I've looked into that did not feel like they were expecting something from me. I should be terrified, but I only feel comfort and a sense of calm. The strange pull I've always felt toward him feels so much stronger right now with him like this.

"Kellan?" I question, but still, he just stands there, looking at me as if I am a ghost.

I think he may be more affected by this entire scenario than I am, which I find amusing. I'm confused, sure, but I know he would never hurt me. He seems thoroughly traumatized right now based on the way his eyes refuse to leave mine.

"Kellan?" I ask again, waiting for him to confirm my suspicions, but he remains silent.

I wrap my arms around his midsection, surprised by how solid he seems, considering, to the blind eye, he appears more like a floating cloud of smoke and shadows. I pull him in for a hug, resting my face on his cloaked midsection. Chills spread across my body from the close contact, and I've never felt so sure I belong somewhere untilright now. I know with full certainty that I belong in his arms.

"I know it's you," I tell him as dark shadows surround the parts of me that touch him. "I need you to talk to me and tell me what's going on."

I stay here like this for a moment, feeling his feathery touch all around me. I take a deep breath, taking in his scent, and it reminds me of a warm summer day after it rains, fresh and clean. When he still doesn't say anything, I release my hold and step back to look at him. His refusal to speak is extremely frustrating.

"Are you going to talk to me, damn it? I know it's you. Speak up and tell me what the fuck is going on, so I don't have to try and work this out for myself."

He turns his head to the side in confusion. "Why aren't you trying to escape me?"

"Why would I? You haven't done anything?"

"Lena, most humans who are not on their immediate deathbed have some sort of response to the sight of me: fear, anxiety, anticipation, something. The feelings I sense from you right now are peace, curiosity, and tranquility. I don't understand." His voice is deeper than I've heard it sound before.

"So, you're admitting it is you? I guess I don’t have to take you back to your car at the graveyard then. Do you even have a car?"

"You're not focusing on the correct questions."

"The only question I'm focused on at the moment is whether or not my new boyfriend is the shadowy figure standing in front of me. If you couldconfirm, that would be fantastic." I can tell he is irritated with me, but I don't care.

A moment later, the shadowy figure vanishes, and the very handsome man I've been spending my time with appears in its place.

"Yes. I am one and the same," he confirms. "Do you not have other questions?"

"Is this a dream? I hope I'm not sleeping because if I am, then I should be concerned with how active my imagination is." I pinch my arm, and it hurts. I must be awake.

"You're not sleeping."

"Okay." I grab his hand and pull him back toward my bedroom. I don't want to be talking about this in the open, in case captain douchebag and my ex-friend decide to come back to the apartment.

Once we are inside my room, I lock the door and turn to face him. He is seated on the edge of the bed, wearing nothing besides a pair of shorts. The light that shines around him from the early morning sun makes me want to jump on top of him and have a repeat of last night. The tattoos around his arms seem brighter than usual; the black roses and smokey tendrils have a new meaning now.

"Lena," he warns, as though he can somehow sense my thoughts.

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